By Kenneth Cross
NASHVILLE – The No. 11 Auburn Tigers used another strong defensive game to upend the Florida Gators, 86-67, in the SEC Championship Game in Bridgestone Arena.
Auburn held the Gators to 36 percent from the field while Florida made only 1-of-13 three-point attempts. The Gators average eight makes per game and attempt 23 three-pointers per outing.
In comparison, Florida was 14-of-26 from the triplicate in its 95-90 win over Texas A&M in the conference semifinals on Saturday.
“I think part of it was the four games in four days,” explained Auburn coach Bruce Pearl. “The teams they played against to get to the championship game … I’m sure fatigue was a factor.”
Johni Broome led the Tigers with 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Auburn won it’s second SEC Tournament title in the last five years.
The Tigers used a 19-8 run over the first seven minutes of the second half to build a 57-46 lead as Broome, the SEC Tournament MVP, scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Denver Jones had 11 points and Chad Baker-Mazara recorded 10 to lead Auburn, who shot 51 percent from the floor.
“Basketball is a game of runs, but it’s how you respond,” said SEC Tournament MVP John Broome. “You have to take the punches, but you also have to give some back.”
The balance of Auburn’s depth and positive mindset at every position, given the many situations on a basketball court in a 40-minute game, were superlatives in cutting the nets in Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
“Winning the championship this year means even more because the league is so good,” commented Pearl. “I told my son, we won a few of these. I think this one is the most special. Maybe because it’s my 10th year here at Auburn or the bond this team had. I wanted it really badly for these guys or maybe because the league was this good.”
The Tigers started the game by taking a 16-8 lead as they stretched that to 12 points when Chad Baker-Mazara and KD Johnson made back-to-back free throws.
Unfortunately, Florida center Micah Handlogten went down with 17:40 left in the first half as he was going after an offensive rebound. The 7-1 center had fractured his left leg and was taken off the floor on a stretcher. He had successful surgery later and expects a full recovery.
Gators guard Walter Clayton, Jr., led Florida with six points out of halftime as they cut the Tigers’ lead to 45-44 with 17:00 to play in the game.
From there, Denver Jones scored nine of Auburn’s next 16 points as the Tigers led 60-48 and pushed that lead to as many as 21 before they took the 86-67 win.
“We are playing for the coach, BP, we have, the staff we have, the players that we have, the bonding we have, It just makes it more special,” said Broome.
Meanwhile, Golden shared his thoughts on his team and their appearance in the SEC Final as well.
“For us to get to this SEC Championship Game this year and knock off the teams we did, still incredibly proud of our team,” Golden said. “I am excited to get back on track for the tournament next week.”
Golden’s second season has seen Florida challenge it’s SEC opponents regularly, win 24 games, and make it to the championship game. Golden has done a superb job of building a team with complementary players who work well together on and off the floor.
“They took advantage of our mistakes like good teams do,” said Golden. “Combination of us not having everything we need to get all the way back, and them just not allowing us to do that was the difference.”
Zyon Pullin led the Gators with 15 points while Clayton managed 13.